Regular testing is now required for backflow prevention devices
According to the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) plumbing code enacted in 2008, backflow prevention devices such as an RPZ valve, are to be tested thoroughly before they are installed at water supply lines to prevent the occurrence of backflow and to safeguard the potable drinking water system. Backflow is a very frequently used term in the plumbing industry that means the reverse flow of wastewater or contaminated water into the potable drinking water system.
This leads to contaminants potentially getting mixed up with the drinking water supply system and, which presents the problem of several potential health hazards, which if left on its own may present a serious public health issue. The crucial function of the various kinds of pipes that we see in and around our homes is to transport water in a single direction and not let it flow in the reverse direction. The pipes and the plumbing system, in general, are responsible for moving clean water into one’s home, while the wastewater that is generated daily should flow out of the direction from one’s home.
If the water starts to flow in an opposite direction altogether, and the contaminated water then flows back into the drinking water supply, then that is what constitutes backflow and that is one of the most harmful things that can happen. Also, a clean water supply is one of the most fundamental requirements by any individual to live in. Hence, adequate care and precautions need to be undertaken to prevent any form of harmful backflow into the system. The functioning behind the backflow prevention equipment is basically that since the water is maintained at a certain pressure inside the pipes, if the pressure suddenly falls, then the prevention device should be able to dump out the wastewater rather than letting it contaminate the whole system, a form of emergency failsafe.
This is where the RPZ testing services become so vital and the reason why it has been included in the plumbing code as it becomes an issue of public health. RPZ stands for Reduced Pressure Zone and it has to be inserted and installed into the plumbing system to perform its main function of preventing the cross-contamination of the potable drinking water source. In most cities like New York, towns, drinking water supply centers, water supply companies, and others, regular backflow inspection has become quite mandatory as without proper backflow regulations, severe contaminants may enter the system and that might lead you to contract diseases such as typhoid, dysentery, salmonella, stomach ulcers, etc.
Although backflow prevention devices boast a very long shelf life, there are other parts in the backflow prevention device that may be susceptible to wear and tear and this is the reason why there are so many regulations aimed at checking the condition of the entire system. Backflow prevention devices are mainly installed at cross-connections inside the plumbing system since they are the most vulnerable to any form of cross-contamination occurring. If you are looking for an RPZ tester in New Jersey (NJ), you would find a lot of viable and cost-effective options that would take care of your needs.